The streaming giant is currently testing a way to restrict account sharing. In a few countries in South America, users now have to pay a few euros per month in additional fees to be able to set up profiles for users outside their household. A solution that could soon be applied in the rest of the world?
We already told you about it last year. This is a matter of high concern for Netflix: account sharing. A practice technically permitted by the possibility of watching content on different screens simultaneously, to the chagrin of the platform. Because she had imagined this system for family units, so that within the same household parents could, for example, take advantage of the last season of Stranger Thingswhile the teens watch the rap competition New schooland that the little ones follow the adventures of the paw patrol… But the fact is that this is not the only use that is made of it. Many are indeed those who benefit from the subscription of a loved one, without them living together. So you have probably already heard or even pronounced these words: “Do you have a Netflix account to share?“
It would thus be more than 100 million users around the world who would enjoy Netflix for free, without being subscribers themselves, according to estimates by the firm based in Los Gatos, California. This obviously represents a huge shortfall. While it is losing momentum in view of growing competition, having already lost some 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022 and planning to lose even more at the end of the second, the platform at N rouge is therefore working seriously on solutions to stem the problem. So it launched a test phase last March, in a few South American countries, to put an end to unauthorized account sharing, either outside the subscriber’s household.
Account sharing, soon a paid option on Netflix?
It seemed like a long time ago that Netflix would opt for a double authentication system, but it is another method that has finally been used in the countries in question, namely Peru, Costa Rica and Chile. Rather than prevent account sharing, the streaming giant has chosen to introduce additional fees, of a few euros per month, to subscribers who establish profiles for users outside their household. But after conducting the investigation, the magazine rest of the world recently pointed out that this solution does not seem to be the most effective…
First of all because it would be difficult to differentiate unauthorized account sharing from those carried out within the family framework, members of the same household may after all need to connect to Netflix outside their home, holidays for example. Then because this new policy, to which seem to have been added communication problems, is simply not really well received. By wanting to make connection sharing a kind of paid option, the streaming giant risks scaring off many subscribers.
However, Netflix does not seem to want to review its strategy. A spokeswoman for the American company told the magazine The Verge : “While we only started working on paid account sharing 18 months ago, it’s been five years since we made it clear that a Netflix account is for people who live together in the same household.“Then to confide as to the tests set up in South America:”We are satisfied with the response received to date.“There is no doubt that the platform has made its calculations, and that if it considers them to be satisfactory, it should soon set up this paid option system for account sharing in other markets…
What Netflix offers are available in France?
To be continued. In the meantime, remember that Netflix currently offers three different offers in France: an Essential subscription, with a single screen at €8.99/month, a Standard subscription, with two screens at €13.49/month, or a Premium subscription, with four screens (and content offered in 4K resolution) at €17.99/month. And at SFR, know that you can get Netflix Standard in advantageous packs:
with the SFR Entertainment+ package for €13.49/month (instead of €23.49/month)
with the SFR Cinema package for €17/month (instead of €23.49/month)
with Deezer Premium for €22/month (instead of €24.48/month)
with RMC Sport for €24/month (instead of €28.49/month).
Enough to fill up on entertainment at a lower price! More information in the TV section of the SFR online store.
